I’m ChaeHyun (Bona) Hwang, a visual storyteller working across photojournalism, documentary photography, visual anthropology, and cultural branding in Korea, Japan, and the United States.

As a curiosophile, I use photography to pursue simple but persistent “whys.” Grounded in a visual anthropological approach, my work examines how history, identity, and memory are lived and expressed across different cultures—through political demonstrations, rituals, and everyday scenes. I aim to create images that do more than document: images that pause audiences, invite reflection, and communicate with clarity and trust.

Through long-term documentary projects, student journalism, and archival exhibitions across East Asia and the U.S., I translate complex social narratives into compelling visual stories. Working across shooting, editing, curating, and archival restoration, I approach photography as both research and communication—one that carries ethical responsibility and impact.

Whether using analog film or digital media, my focus remains consistent: crafting honest, human-centered images that connect people to ideas, communities, and brands with depth rather than noise.

“If your pictures aren’t good enough,

you’re not close enough.”

Robert Capa